His love abounds

Many who sincerely consecrate their lives to God's service are surprised and disappointed to find themselves, as never before, confronted by obstacles and beset by trials and perplexities. They pray for Christlikeness of character, for a fitness for the Lord's work, and they are placed in circumstances that seem to call forth all the evil of their nature. Faults are revealed of which they did not even suspect the existence. Like Israel of old they question, "If God is leading us, why do all these things come upon us?"

It is because God is leading them that these things come upon them. Trials and obstacles are the Lord's chosen methods of discipline and His appointed conditions of success. He who reads the hearts of men knows their characters better than they themselves know them. He sees that some have powers and susceptibilities which, rightly directed, might be used in the advancement of His work. In His providence He brings these persons into different positions and varied circumstances that they may discover in their character the defects which have been concealed from their own knowledge. He gives them opportunity to correct these defects and to fit themselves for His service. Often He permits the fires of affliction to assail them that they may be purified.

i was so encouraged to read this today as God has been doing a purifying work in my own defective heart. how often i forget that He disciplines us through the very disappointments & difficulties we resist. His discipline is love. yesterday was one of those days i just needed a good cry. the kind of ugly face cry that you don't even want your husband around for. the babies were busy playing in the next room while i swept the kitchen floor for the third time. there i sat, amidst hardened peaches & crushed cheerios, weeping. i wouldn't normally share this sort of thing on my blog but what happened next is something i want forever etched in my heart & mind.

God met with me.

through a 22 pound boy, He reached down to comfort me, because He loves me.

you see davis heard me crying from the other room & ran into the kitchen. he wrapped his arms around my neck & gently put his head on my shoulder. there we sat for the next five minutes, only looking up to exchange an "i love you" or two.

God knows our hearts & their fragility... all of their hurts, hopes & challenging emotions. He knows them, He holds them, He shapes & He purifies them. He loves us that much. Thank you, Lord, that your love is always enough.

The sovereign God wants to be loved for Himself and honored for Himself, but that is only part of what He wants. The other part is that He wants us to know that when we have Him we have everything -- we have all the rest.
- A.W. Tozer (one of my favorite authors)